True to their populist instincts, Bolsonaro and Amlo reacted in similar ways. The Brazilian leader claimed that Covid-19 was not much more than a case of the sniffles. The Mexican president brandished a six-leaf clover, which he claimed would protect him against the virus. He also advised his fellow countrymen to keep going to fiestas and to visit restaurants. Amlo’s refusal to take the pandemic seriously meant that he did little to bolster Mexico’s frail health system or to put into place a spending plan to stimulate the economy.
